Emperors Club The

[Helicopter Whirring][Door Opens, Closes]
Is everything
okay, sir?
Fine. Thank you.
Here. Let me, uh...
That's not
necessary, sir.
[Door Opens, Closes][Man Narrating]As I've gotten older, I realizeI'm certain of only two things.Days that begin with rowingon a lake are betterthan days that do not.Second,a man's character is his fate.And, as a student ofhistory,I find this hard to refute.For most of us,our stories can be writtenlong before we die.There are exceptionsamong the great men ofhistory,but they are rare,and I am not one of them.
[Chuckles]
I am a teacher...
simply that.I taught for 34 years.One day I stopped teaching.Those were the factsof my life's chronicle.The last chapterhad been written.My book was closed.
[Ringing]
Hello?
[Ringing Continues]
Hello. Hello?
[Man On Intercom]
Mr. Hundert?
Yes. Hello.
Can you hear me, sir?
I can.
Hello.
Mr. Bell wanted to make sure
you were comfortable.
I'm quite comfortable.
Thank you. And-And, please,
thank Mr. Bell
for the beautiful fruit basket.
It's quite...
comprehensive.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Bell also wanted me
to tell you he's added an event...
on the morning
following the competition...
a breakfast
in your honor.
Mr. Hundert?
Yes... Yes.
Th-Thank you.
Thank you.
The others will be
heading down to the bar
in 20 minutes, sir.
Uh, very well.
Twenty minutes.
In the bar.
I'll be there.
Th...
[Hundert's Voice]I couldn't tell you exactlywhy I had agreed to come.I'm not sure I knew.It had something to do with hope.The young men that weregathering here were among...the most successful and influentialof their generation.But I knew thembefore any of that.I knew them as my students...at Saint Benedict'sSchool for Boys.[Bell Tolling][Tolling Continues][Applause][Man] Looking closer,under the bishop's miter,
are the words, "Non sibi"...
or "Not for oneself."
This embodies our philosophyat Saint Benedict's.The wisdom gained hereshould be used for others...as well as for oneself.
And finally,
"Finis origine pendet. "These three words are emblazonedacross your hearts...
under the great seal
of Saint Benedict's.
It is our academy's motto.Simply:"The end depends uponthe beginning. "
The end...
depends upon
the beginning.
[Boys Chattering, Laughing]
Hey, Greg.How are you doin'?
Hi, Mr. Hundert.
Mr. Ericks.
Ex-Excuse me.
Huh? What me?
Yes, sir.
What is your name?
Uh, Louis.
- Just Louis?
- Louis Masoudi, sir.
Mr. Masoudi,
could you define the word
"path" for me?
Well, there are several
definitions, I suppose.
Would "a route along which
someone or something moves"
be among them?
Yeah.
Oh, yeah. No. Yeah.
I'm s-sorry, sir.
Follow the path, Mr. Masoudi.Walk where the great menbefore you have walked.
Yes, sir. It's, uh...
It's better for the grass.
It's better for you.
Mr. Hundert.
Mr. Ellerby.
I wanted to thank you.
For what?
Mr. Woodbridge let slip
that you were instrumental
in my procuring this job.
Bene exeat, sir.
Bene meritus.
It's always good to have
another friend of the classics.
I'll tell you,
the way he talks about you...
"Just listen to Mr. Hundert.
He'll be running the place one day."
- Your name, sir?
- Robert Brewster, sir.
- Very good. And you?
- Deepak Mehta, sir.
And your name?
Eugene Field, sir.
Field. And you?
Martin Blythe, sir?
- Is that a question?
- Uh, no, sir.
Uh, my name
is Martin Blythe, sir.
Very good.
You all know
your own names.
Question is, do I?
- Mister... Blythe.
- Me, sir?
Yes, you.
Not Mr. Field to your right...
or Mr. Grey to your leftor Mr. Diebel behind you.You, sir. Will you do me a favorand walk to the back of this classroom...
and read for us
the plaque which you see
hanging over that door?
[Clears Throat]
"'I am Sh-Shu..."'
[Chuckles]
- "'I am Sh- Shutruk- Nahhunte"'?
- Very good. A little louder, please.
Yes, sir.
"'I am Shutruk-Nahhunte,
King of Ansham and Susa,
"'sovereign
of the land of Elam.
I destroyed Sippar
and took the 'stel-ah' of..."'
"Stele."
"'Took the stele of Naram-Sin
and brought it back to Elam,
"where I erected it asan offering to my god. '
Shutruk-Nahhunte,
1158 B.C."
Well done, Mr. Blythe.
Thank you. You may be seated.
"Shutruk- Nahhunte. "Is anyone familiar with this fellow?
Texts are permissible.
But you won't find it there.Shutruk- Nahhunte.! King.!
Sovereign of the land of Elam!
Destroyer of Sippar!
Behold, his accomplishments
cannot be found
in any history book. Why?
Because great ambition
and conquest...
without contribution...
is without significance.
What will
your contribution be?
How will history
remember you?
Shutruk-Nahhunte...
utterly forgotten.
Unlike the great menyou see around you...
Aristotle,
Caesar,
Augustus,
Plato, Cicero, Socrates...
giants of history,
men of profound character.
Men whose accomplishments
surpassed their own lifetime...
and survive
even into our own.
Their story...
is our story.
My name is Mr. Hundert.
Welcome
to Western Civilization:
The Greeks and the Romans.
**[Rock Guitar][Boisterous Laughter]
Welcome
to Saint Benedict's!
[Grunts]
**[Continues]
[Boys Laughing]
Lights out
in five minutes,
gentlemen.
It's awfully loud,
Mr. Jones.
Please turn it down.
Did you...
Her titties are so...
After that, though...
No. After that,
I was walking back
to get my books.
And I was walking
along the grass, and Hundert
comes up to me and says,
- "Mr. Masoudi" and I turned
around but I took care of it.
- Yeah, I know. Yeah.
And then, he's like,
"Follow the path, Mr. Masoudi.
Walk where the great men
before you have walked."
- Very good, Mr. Masoudi.
- I was just lettin' him know.
That's why I was tellin' him.
To bed.
Yeah. Right.
See you tomorrow.
Lights out
in five minutes,
gentlemen.
Just why am I...
Huh? No. I'm going.
Good night, Mr. Blythe.
Yeah. Good night.
Good night.
Jesus Christ.
I am such an asshole.
Carthaginians.
Uh...
Yes, sir.
Hamilcar Barca seems like
an outstanding commander.
Yes, who had the misfortuneofbeing on the losing side.
You do realize that
Hamilcar Barca is not part
of the course reading list?
Yes, sir.
Very good.
Lights out.
**[Continues]
9:00, gentlemen.
**[Stops]
Good night.
Hi.
- Hello.
- Oh, hi.
- [Woman Laughs]
- Welcome back.
It's great to see you!
You too.
How are you?
I'm fine.
You sure you're all right?
Ye-Yeah.
What did you think
of Athens?
Oh. I loved it.
I knew you would.
Tony hated it,
but you know the British.
"Too many Greeks."
[Laughs]
Tony's Tony.
Here.
I told the man in the store
I wanted something...
for a very serious scholar
of antiquity.
[Both Laughing]
The Parthenon.
- It's smaller than I remember it.
- [Laughs]
I don't have one of these.
Thank you.
I found it in the agora.
Tony couldn't understand
why I wanted to go there.
It's a little touristy now,
but I kept hearing
your voice in my head.
And I kept seeing it exactly
the way you described it,
with Socrates teachingright in front of me.
And... there was Tony,
falling asleep
from the heat and ouzo,
and me eating
my shish kabob.
I thought aboutyou a lot. Um...
- I wished you were there.
- It would've been
a little odd though...
with you and me
and Socrates...
and your sleeping husband.
Yeah. A little.
[Hundert]And with the monarchy's demise,two new systems...of government... the first,ruled by the few, known as?
Mr. Brewster.
Uh, tyranny?
In spirit, perhaps,
but etymologically, no.
More precisely, oligarchy.
Tyranny is what we have
in this classroom. It works.
[Laughing]
Mr. Blythe?
Antisthenes: "We must
have richness of soul."
Oh, it was, uh, Heraclitus,
when he said a man's character
is his fate or-or his destiny.
Precisely.
"Not to know what happened
before you were born...
is to be forever a child."
[Students Chattering]
[Woodbridge]Mr. Julius Caesar...is a Saint Benedict's tradition.
It is a contest held each year
in two phases.
The first, is a series of quizzes...that will narrow the fieldof competitors to three.The secondis a public tournament...where these three will take the stageat Saint Benedict's Hall...and answer questionsabout Roman history.The last man standingwill be declared the winner...and crownedMr. Julius Caesar.
- Your father was a winnerwas he not, Mr. Blythe?
- Yes, sir.
Mm-hm.
Would you point him out
to us, please?
[Woodbridge]Ah.
A noble honor indeed.
Well, carry on,
gentlemen.
Thank you,
Mr. Woodbridge.
[Bell Tolling]Finally, Caesar arrivesat the Rubicon,
a small little river
which divides... Mr. Field?
Cisalpine Gaul
from Italy.
Correct.
He gathers his one legionaround him. A legion comprisedofhow many men... Mr. Grey?6,000?6,000 men.Pompey has 10 legions...
with the support
of the Senate, and Caesar
is undaunted by these odds.
Suddenly...impulsively...
Caesar cries out.! Mr. Mehta.
- "Alea jacta est. "
- "The die is cast!"
He crosses the Rubicononly to find his enemies have fled.He chases Pompeyall around the Mediterranean.Finally, he arrives in Alexandria,where the king of Egypt...
- Mr. Masoudi?
- Ptolemy XIII?
Ptolemy XIII...
presents him with a gift...
the head of Pompey.
[Knocking]
Mr. Hundert,
I'd like you to make
the acquaintance...
of Mr. Sedgewick Bell.
Pleasure
to meet you, Mr. Bell.
Well then, carry on,
Mr. Hundert.
Nice to meet you, son.
Thank you, sir.
Gentlemen,
I'd like you to welcome
a new member of our class,
Mr. Sedgewick Bell.
[Overlapping Greetings]
Come in.
The sign said
this was a boy's school.
- It is a boy's school.
- So why is everyone wearing dresses?
- [Scattered Laughter]
- These are not dresses.
This is a toga. It is a loose
outer garment worn by...
Worn by citizens
of ancient Rome.
I know.
- I was just... kidding with you.
- [Laughing]
The toga was bestowed on young menin recognition of their transition...
from childishness
to manhood.
So?
Please.Come in. Sit down.
Have a seat here
behind Mr. Brewster.
You know what?
I actually think
that I'm good here.
Mr. Bell.
Mr. Hundert.
Have a seat.
[Laughs]
Now, uh, before I forget,
tomorrow we will begin
on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.
I expect you all...
to be familiar
with the play.
Mr. Bell,I'd like you to lookat the role of Brutus,
the noblest Roman
of them all.
Mr. Masoudi, you have
a lean and hungry look,
you'll read the partof Cassius.
[Students Chattering]
He's the son of Hyram Bell,
the senior senator
from West Virginia.
Well, whoever the father is,
the son is a bit of a Visigoth, I'm afraid.
Is he that bad?No, I don't think so.
It's just new school bravado.
That's all. He'll be fine.
[Ball Banging On Wall,Smacking Glove]
- [Knocking]
- [Banging Continues]Sedgewick?
Right. Sedgewick.
Hey.! Se- Sedgewick.Um, some of uswerejust, uh...
just wondering, uh...
Actually, Martin...
Martin was wondering
if you could keep it down.
He's trying to study.
Okay. All right. That's...
[Scoffs]
"I think it is not meet Mark Antony,so well- beloved of Caesar,"should outlive Caesar.
Let Antony and Caesar
fall together."
"Our course will seem
too bloody, Caius Cassius,
"to cut the head off
then hack the limbs.
Like wrath in death..."
[Snorts, Coughs]...
"and envy afterwards,for Antony is but a limb of Caesar.
Let us be sacrificers,
but not butchers."
[Hundert]"Let us be sacrificers,but not butchers. "
Yes, your Brutus
lacks conviction, Mr. Bell.
You do realizewhat you're saying? The fateof the Republic is at stake.!
[Laughs]
Not for me.
No. I realize that.
But try to imagine
the significance
of the moment.
You, Brutus,are at the centerof a conspiracy...to killJulius Caesar,
you believe,
for the good of Rome.
Yet you're struggling profoundly
with the moral implications...
of murdering
Mark Antony as well.
Yeah, but I don't agree
with their plan.
Brutus doesn't agree
with their plan?
No. I don't agree
with their plan.
They should kill
Mark Antony too.
I mean,
Brutus is a pussy.
[Laughing]
"A pussy"?
Because he has
a conscience?
Because he believes there's
a right way and a wrong way?
Oh, come on.
Antony ended up
taking him down, right?
Well, in a manner
of speaking, yes.
He and Octavius, but...
But what?
Had they killed him,
as the other guy suggested, uh...
- Cassius.
- Yeah. Him.
If they'd done what he said,
- Brutus might have
gone on to be king.
- Emperor, in fact.
- Exactly.
- Which he had no desire to be.
- Whatever. He would've won.
- Yes, but at what cost?
Remember Socrates?
Not really.
[Chuckles]"It is not livingthat is important,but living rightly. "Socrates chose to dieby unjust execution...
rather than break the laws
of Athens to which he had
pledged obedience.
Another genius.
[Bell Rings]
[Chattering]
[Shouting, Laughing]
William, hold up.!
Ellerby.
How are you, sir?
Very well. How are things
in the Latin Quarter?
Could not be happier.
For making me feel
so much at home.
I'm sure you have it,but you might like it'cause it's a first edition.I found it in a rare bookshopnext to a copy of the Oresteia.
Oh, really?
So young when he wrote this.
I happen to have
attended a guest lecture
he gave at Dartmouth.
Really?
Yeah.
It must have been
something to grow up
around all that talent.
Oh, it was. Indeed.
Yes... Yes, he was...
[Bell Tolling]
Thank you.
Sure.
Very kind of you.
Farewell.
I'll see you later.
- Okay. Fio.
- [Both] I am made. I become.
Fis.[Door Opening]
Hey, guys.
Fis.
[Both]
You are made. You become.
[Martin]Oh, okay, um...
Fit?
[Deepak, Louis]He, she, it is made.He, she, it becomes.It is done.[Martin]Okay, now for bonus points,the plural of fit.
F- Fiunt.
Yeah.
[Martin]Oh, okay. Um...
Check it out.
It's from France.
Thanks.
Um. Studio.
I study.
Um...
Oh, my God.
[Martin] Come on. I thinkwe should be studying.Oh, my God.
- What?
- This shows hair.
What do you mean by "hair"?
Oh, my God.
[Clattering]
[Chuckles]
Excuse me.
Uh, can I point out that
if we get caught around
any of this we're dead?
- I mean, seriously, we're dead.
- It'll be all right.
[Scoffs]
I'm going to my room
to study.
- Here, Marty. Study this.
- [All Laughing]
"The die is cast."
Mrs. Louis Masoudi.
[Sedgewick Laughs][Boys Chuckling][Martin]Why are we doing this?My allergies are killing me,
rocks in my shoes,
poison ivy all over the place.
I mean, the boathouse
is off-limits, and we can't
leave school property.
What if this boat
has frickin' holes in it, huh?
[Louis]
Get over it, Martin.
Oh, God!
You guys just
don't understand
the consequences.
They catch us and we get
kicked out and we don't get
our tuition back.
[Deepak]
Martin, mellow out, man!
I can't just mellow out!
I cannot get kicked out of here!
I'm a "legacy" for Christ's sake!
My father was
Mr. Julius Caesar.
Did he ever tell you
what question he won on?
Did he ever not tell me?
"Which tribes invaded Rome
in 102 B.C.?"
Teutons and the Cimbri.
The last words out of his mouth
before he dropped me off here.
So, uh, Martin,
Dare you really, like,
Nervous about...
Ohh!
[Laughing]
Incoming.
[Whizzing]
[Firecracker Explodes]
Watch out, Marty.
My informants tell me
if we head for that place...
Right, Saint Mary's?
- Yeah.!
- No, no, no, no, no.
The penalty for setting
foot on Saint Mary's property...
[Yells]
What do you say, Deepak?
You want to go?
Yeah. I'll go.
Louis?
Yeah. I'll go.
See, Martin?
That's the problem
with democracy.
[Martin]Guys, I'm really nervous.[Louis] Yeah. We know.I love uniforms.I- I really thinkwe should turn around.[Deepak] Shut up, man.
[Girls' Voices, Indistinct]
[Giggling]
[Martin] Seriously, we gotto turn around right now.This is not safe.![Louis]Marty, shut up. Shut up.[Sedgewick]Hey, come on. Easy does it, boys.
Hi.
[Laughs]
- You ladies go to school here?
- Duh.
[All Giggling]
We go across the lake.
We're on the crew team.
He's our "coxman," so...
[Girl]Coxswain.
Right. No.
Right, I know.
Coxswain.
So is it true what they say
about the guys who go...
to "Saint Benedick's"?
[Laughing]
I don't know.
Uh, what is that exactly?
Tsk. So, uh,
what's your name?
Um, I'm Sedgewick.
This is Deepak.
Louis and Martin.
Hi.
Marty, if you like.
Or Mar-Martin's fine.
Why don't you give us
your phone number, and maybe
we'll call you sometime.
- [Gasps] You are such...
- [Sedgewick]Guys, what's our phone number?
- [Deepak] 555- 0169
- Um, area code 215.
Okay.
So, um...
Do you guys want to go
skinny-dipping?
- Pardon me?
- You mean naked?
[Girls Giggling]
What?
What's he doin'?
[Girls Laughing]
Oh, my God.
So, uh, who's gonnacome with me then?[Girl]Is he kidding?[Girl #2] Oh, God.!Oh, no way.!
Not me. I don't want
to get my arm wet.
Might lose your phone number.
That's okay. I'll just
whisper it in your ear
so you won't forget.
- I'll go!
- My God!
I'll go too!
[Louis]Disrobe men.!
[Blubbering]
Yeah!
[Girls Giggling]
I'm going!
Ladies.!What is going on here?[Deepak]Holy shit.![Louis] A nun.
Oh, my God.
There goes
your tuition, Marty.
[Bell Tolling]
Come on!
There is a code
at Saint Benedict's...
of self-governance
based on mutual trust.
[Tolling Continues]You have violated that trust.
And you've compromised
the reputation of this academy.
If I thought you didn't know anybetter, that would be one thing.
But willful ignorance
is intolerable.
You're confined to the dormitory
until 7:00 tomorrow morning.
- What about dinner?
- [Both Laughing]
- Excuse me?
- Well, I'm hungry, sir.
- [Laughs]
Oh, my God!
- Mr. Masoudi?
Mr. Hundert.
[Sputtering Laugh]
[Laughs]
Have a good evening,
gentlemen.
How you doing,
Mr. Hundert?
Hi, Mr. H.
Did you lock up the door?
I did.
You did? Thanks.
Yeah.
Hey, Logan.
How you doin'?
[Sedgewick]Brewster.!
- [Slammed Books Resounding]
- [Laughter]
Mr. Bell,
would you please
come up to the front
of the classroom?
[Classmates
"Oohing," Laughing]
Would you mind finishing
this diagram for me?
Octavian
was named what?
A common wood beetle on
the floor of this classroom...
would know the answer
to that question.
- Emperor?
- Yes!
Can you, please, name any
of the subsequent emperors...
whom we've been discussing?
- There were 41.
- I only know seven.
Very well.
- Grumpy, Happy,
Sleepy, Sneezy,
- [Laughing]
Dopey...
[Laughter Continues]Seriously, though,can you in fact...
- name any of the emperors?
- I know four.
- Very well.
- Uh, John, Paul, Ringo and, uh,
- George.
- Mr. Bell.
A word of warning.As the great witAristophanes once wrote...
roughly translated...
"Youth ages, immaturity is outgrown,
"ignorance can be educated
and drunkenness sobered,
"but stupid...
lasts forever."
Class, if you please,
chronologically...
[All]
Tiberius, Caligula,
Claudius, Nero,
Galba, Otho,
Vitellius, Vespasian,
Titus, Domitian,
Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian,
Antonius Pius,Marcus Aurelius,Commodus, Pertinax...
Thank you.
That will do.
Please take your seat,
Mr. Bell.
[Chalk Clatters][Knocking]
Come in.
[Door Rattling]Mr. Bell.
Mr. Hundert.
Please, have a seat.
Only child?
Please be seated, Mr. Bell.
Do you know why you're here?
"Student of the day."
I gave you "1 " for spelling
your name correctly.
Mr. Bell,
I don't know
what you think you're doing
at Saint Benedict's,
but this
is unacceptable work.
- You must apply yourself...
- You're not married, are you, sir?
No. I am not.
That's why you like
putting us all in togas, right?
I've made arrangements
to meet with your father.
Is there anything
you'd like me to say to him?
Tell him I said hello.
[Door Closes]Well, how are you?Good to see you.
And you, sir.
Give me just a second.
Who's that? Mm-hm.
Professor, come on in.
Kathleen,
hold all my calls.
Thank you, Michael.
Sit down, please.
Cubans.
Don't tell the A.T.F.
[Chuckles]
No. Not for me.
Thanks.
You're sure?
Oh, yes, sir.
Don't know
what you're missin'.
Senator...
Oh, here.
You'll enjoy this.
This was given to me
by one of my constituents
this morning.
Take a look at that.
[Woman]Senator Bell's office.
Hold it! Don't be
too fast there, partner.
[Chuckles]
Quarter roll.
Ah.
Here. Go on.
That was, uh...
Supposedly belonged to
the coachman of Robert E. Lee.
Really?
Well, so he said.
[Chuckles]
You're a history buff,
aren't ya?
In a manner
of speaking, sir. Yes.
Well, take that.
That's yours.
Oh, no. I couldn't.
Oh, take the damn thing.!
It's a gift. For all you've done
for my son, Sedgewick.
Thank you.
[Clicking]
So, to what
do I owe this honor?
[Clicking Continues]
It's your son, Senator.
Oh, Christ.
What the devil's
he done now?
Sedgewick is clearlyan intelligent boy, but, sir,he's not applying himself.
He's not...
learning the material.
[Drawer Sliding]
I need a match!
[Woman]Yes, Senator. Right away.What material is that?
It's the Greeks
and the Romans...
We've left the Republic
and entered the Empire...
Here you are, sir.
Thank you.
Shut the dooron your way out, will you?
We're up to
the reign of Augustus.
You ought to be careful
with that thing, by the way.
You know, it still fires.
Oh.
Sedgewick, it seems,
is not paying attention
in class, sir.
Nor is he doing
the assigned reading.
Let me ask you something.
What's the good
of what you're teachin' those boys?
- "The good"?
- Yes. The good.
Well, Senator,
the Greeks and Romans provided...
a model of democracy, which,
I don't need
to tell you, the framers
of our own Constitution...
used as their inspiration.
But more to the point,I think when the boysread Plato, Aristotle,
Cicero, Julius Caesar even,
they're put in direct contact
with men who,
in their own age, exemplified...
the highest standards
of statesmanship,
of civic virtue,
of character, conviction...
[Chuckles]
Boy, that is a horse that can talk!
So, you're sayin' that my son
Sedgewick has his head up his ass.
[Chuckles]
Sir, it's my job to mold
your son's character,
and I think if...
Mold him?
Jesus God in heaven, son.
You're not gonna mold my boy.
Yourjob is to teach my son.
You teach him his times tables.
Teach him why the world is round.
Teach him who killed who
and when and where.
That is your job.
You, sir,
will not mold my son.
I will mold him.
- Yes, sir.
- Yes.
Thanks for comin'.
[Players]
Break!
Marty. Marty.
Get back. Come on.
Bell.! Bell.!
- Uh, telephone for you.
- What?
- It's a girl.
- [Boys Razzing] Ohhh.![Brewster]I'll bet it's that blondfrom Saint Mary's.[Excited Chatter]It's that redhead.
[Boys]
Shhh.
Hello?
[Woman]
Sedgewick?
Hold for your father.
[Sen. Bell]
Let me ask you somethin'.
Do you know what...
it's costing me to send
you to this place?
- What's wrong?
- Shut up.
My time is precious, son.
I thought I made that clear.
I got better things to do
than to clean up after you.
You understand me?
Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
I understand.
Don't forget it.
So, what did she say, man.
What did she say?
Wrong girl.
Wha... What happened?
I don't know.
[Boy Shouting]
Grey, wait up!
[Chattering, Laughter]
[Knocking]
Deepak, would you give
Sedgewick and me a moment?
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
You're welcome, sir.
I spoke to your father.
I know.
We had a real...
heart-to-heart.
This is for you.
Forgive the condition.
It was my textbook in high school.
It's quite good.The first chapterhas an outline...
of all the material which we'll
be covering this term.
I thought it might
be helpful in preparing...
for the Mr. Julius Caesar contest.
The first quiz
is tomorrow morning.
Look at chapter three...
"The Foundation of the Republic. "
Sedgewick,
I'm lending you this book
because I believe in you.
I think you could beat the top of your class...if you wanted to be.
It's entirely up to you.
[Hundert]Begin.
Well done!
[Laughing]
[Bell Tolling]
Mr. Bell.
You passed.
It's only a C-minus.
[Chuckles]
Well, you know what they say
about Rome.
It wasn't
built in a day?
No.
All roads lead to it.
You were right
the first time.
Keep up the good work.
Begin.
[Boy]Hey, Kevin.! How are you?
Forty?
[With Accent]
Fourteen!
Wh-Wh-Wh-What
are you saying? Oh, 14.
All right. Alea jacta est.
What's that mean?
"The die is cast."
[Chattering]
All right. All right.
Twenty. All right.
Next week then.
I actually made the list.
Hey, look
who's up there.
Good job.
Number five.
You're third.
Miss Peters, no oneis going to look at this bookbetween now and 7:00 a.m.
I understand that, Mr. Bell.
I understand.
Every boy in the third forumhas asked to checkthis book out overnight.Now, if I let you have it,that wouldn't be fair, would it?
It would be fair.
I know in my heart
it would be.
Mr. Bell,
you are exasperating.
Miss Peters,
that is a great hairstyle.
- Is that new?
- I've had it since 1958.
Now, Mr. Bell, in order to be fair
to all the students,
it is important thatthis book always be availablehere at this desk.
It is
Saint Benedict's policy.
And it will be
on your desk
tomorrow morning.
I promise you.
You have my word.
No! No!
Miss Peters, I can vouchfor this boy's character.
He's one of my best students.
If he says it will be
on your desk first thing
in the morning,
it will be on your desk
first thing in the morning.
I will, personally,
take full responsibility.
Please.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
I wasn't kidding
about the hair.
Thank you.
Good night.
Say thank you.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Good evening.
You run a tight ship,
Miss Peters.
Good night.
- Good night!
Good night!
- I admire that...
[Louis]Come on, Sedge.Come on.
Yeah-yeah. Come on.
Pick it up. Pick it up.
Yeah!
[Louis]All right, Marty.![Bell]Nice.! Nice catch.![Players'Shouting,Chattering Continues]
Hey, Mr. Hundert!
Hey, you want to take
a couple of swings?
[Sedgewick]Come on, Mr. Hundert.!
- Aw, come on!
- Come on, Mr. Hundert.!
The library windows
are too close.
[Boys Laughing]
Oh, yeah.
Right, Mr. Hundert.
Hey, come on. Show us
how it's done, old school.
[Boys]Ohhh.![Brewster]Now you got to play,Mr. Hundert. Come on.!
[Chuckles]
"Old school," eh?
[Louis]Uh- oh.
Here we go.
Here comes the jacket.
[ChatteringContinues]
Watch and learn.
[Boys Hooting]
Mr. Masoudi.
Mr. Hundert.
It's been awhile.
Yeah.
More like never.
[Boys Laughing]
Hey, back it up, everybody.
Come on. We got a hitter.
Move back.
Back it up, fellows.Back it up, outfield.
Should've known.
[Taps Bat On Book]Egemus iaculatore,non iacchi latore.!
- What does that mean?
- Means we want a pitcher,
not a glass of water.
Oh, ho, ho!
[Field] Come on, Sedgewick.!You got to get him back for that one.!
- Right down the lane.!
- [Boys] Ohhh.!
No batter.
All right.!No batter.! Come on.!Sedgewick, come on.[Field] Swing,batter- batter- batter- batter.![Sedgewick]Run.!
Run!
Come on.!Hurry up.!Move.! Move.!Come on.! Move it.!Let's go.!
Hey, come on!
Let's go to Brewster's room!
Go, go, go, go, go, go!
Shh. Shh.
Ooh. Ohh. Ohh.
Nice hit, Mr. Hundert.
Good, Mr. H.
"Old school"!
Shh.
I suppose
you're as blind
as all of them.
You have no idea how this came
to be hit through my window?
No idea.
Oh, dear.
[Woodbridge]No idea?
- Ohhh, dear.
- You'll make a good lawyer.
It's 9:00.
You have until noon.
This is the last of
the Mr. Julius Caesar
quizzes...
and will do much
to determine
the three finalists.
Good luck.
[Clock Ticking]
It's time, Mr. Bell.
Mr. Bell,
I'm afraid you'll have to stop.
[Sighs]
[Exhales]
This is it,
Martin.
[Gleeful Laughter,Overlapping Chatter]
- This is unbelievable.!
- Oh, my God.
I got to call my father.
[Chattering]
[Sighs]
All right. Let's go!
[Laughing, Shouting, Indistinct]Oh, I'm sorry.I hope it's not too late.
No. Not at all.
Not at all.
How are you?
Uh.
Well. Well.
I was just outside...
observing
the wildlife.
Sit down!
Would you like your usual?
No, thank you.
You sure?
- Mm-hm.
- Do you mind if I, uh...
How is
Mr. Julius Caesar going?
Very... Very well.
Even, uh, Sedgewick Bell.
- Making progress?
- Oh, more than progress.
He's-He's
come out of the darkness
into the light. It's...
Please, sit down.
[Sighs]
Cheers.
I have to tellyou something.Tony's been offereda lectureship at hisold college in Oxford.
It's a good offer,
and he's accepted it.
[Sighs]
I mean... I mean to saywe've accepted it.
Uh, we're-we're
going to England.
W-W-When?
At the end of the year?
Well, if he wants
the position,
he has to take it up
almost immediately,
and he wants the position.
So, he's spoken
to Mr. Woodbridge,
and he agreed.
Just like that?
Well, that's... that's...
That's remarkable, really.
A lectureship, that's
a tremendous opportunity.
Very good. Good.
Well, you'll be missed.
Both of you.
I-I-I... I should...
[Chuckles]
Yes.
[Door Opens, Closes]
[Grunting]
[Applause][Applause, Cheering]Deepak.!Yea, Louis.!Whoo.!
- Sedgewick.!
- Yea, Louis!
[Both]
Masoudi!
Welcome...
Welcome, everyone,
to the 73rd annual competition
of Mr. Julius Caesar.
Our congratulations goto Messrs. Louis Masoudi,[Cheers, Applause]
Deepak Mehta...
[Boys]Deepak.![Applause Continue]
And Sedgewick Bell.
Of course, this competition,
this year's event,
would not have been
possible if it hadn't been
for the passion...
of our moderator.
I give you
our learned Mr. Hundert.
[Boy]Mr. H...!
Headmaster.
Gentlemen.
Ladies.
Distinguished guests.
Questions will be posed
to our three young scholars...
in increasing levels
of difficulty.
I ask you all to please
hold your applause...
till the end
of each round.
May the best man win.
Mr. Masoudi,
which emperor
sought to return...
all power to the Senate,
only to garner
even greater power?
Augustus, r-right?
Correct.
Oh.
Mr. Mehta,who introducedthe professional army to Rome?
Gaius Marius, sir,
in 104 B.C.
Correct.Mr. Bell,on which Roman hill...
was the infamous Tarpeian Rock?
[Coughs]
[Whispering]
It's Capitoline.
Uh, Capitoline?
Correct.
Mr. Masoudi, what is the full nameof the author of the Georgics?
Publius Vergilius Maro.
Military conquest
of 106 A.D. involved
the bridging of the Danube?
Trajan conquers Dacia.
Correct.
What Roman Emperor might
the Greeks have characterized
"philosopher king"?
- Marcus Aurelius.
- Correct.
[Boy]All right, Sedgewick.!Quiet.
Quiet, please.
Mr. Masoudi...
Mr. Masoudi, who werethe first emperors...to rule overthe divided empire?
Valentinian I
and Caecina.
I'm sorry,
that is incorrect.
[Crowd Groans]Mr. Mehta?
Valentinian I
and Valens.
Correct.Thank you, Mr. Masoudi.[Applause]
You may sit down.
[Hundert] Well done.[Boy]Goodjob, man.
Mr. Bell, which general...
had the support
of the aristocrats...
in the civil war of 88 B.C.?
[Whispering]
Sulla.
Lucius Cornelius Sulla.
That is correct.
That's my boy!
Mr. Woodbridge, I think
Sedgewick Bell is cheating.
Let it go.
What?
Ignore it.
Ignore it?
Ignore it.
Mr. Mehta, into how many
administrative regions
did Augustus divide Rome?
Fourteen.Excuse me?How many?
- Fourteen.
- That is correct.
[Boy]All right, Deepak.! Whoo.![Applause]
Mr. Bell,
who was Hamilcar Barca?
Would you repeat
the question, please?
Who was Hamilcar Barca?
I don't know.
[Crowd Groaning]
Mr. Mehta,
who was Hamilcar Barca?
The Carthaginian generalvictorious in the battleof Drepana in 249.An unequaled commanderwith the misfortuneofbeing on the wrong side.
That is correct.
[Applause, Cheers]
Thank you, Louis.
Thank you.
Mr. Julius Caesar.
Harrison, how's your sister?You better notspeak to her.
Mr. H., good job, man.
Goodjob, Mr. Hundert.[Boy]Hey, Jeremy.! How you doin'?[Knocking][Door Opening][Door Closing]
That was quite
an interesting performance
this afternoon.
I knew you saw.
Why, Sedgewick?
You knew the material.
Why not?
How come you didn't stand up
and call me out?
It's a complicated matter,
Sedgewick.
It wasn't because
of my father, was it?
It had nothing to do
with your father.
Sure, Mr. Hundert.
Sure.
[Door Closing]William.!I came byto congratulate you.That was terrific.!
Sedgewick Bell...
quite the surprise.
Yes.
He's come a long way.
You must be very proud of him.
It makes
for wonderful theater.
In fact, I was thinking,
I might make the suggestion
to you, and to Mr. Woodbridge,
that in the future
more alumni are invited.
Not just the parents
of the finalists,
but maybe all of the alumni.
You know?
And instead of it happening
just on any old weekday,
think about making it
a weekend event.
You know, for fund-raising,
which would augur well
for your headmastership.
Mmm.
What's wrong?
[Sighs]
Sedgewick cheated.
What?
Come in.
Well, the pressure to succeed
can be oppressive.
And, right or wrong,
Woodbridge felt it was in the
best interests of the school's
endowment to let it pass.
Come on. William, you didn'tput the boy up on the stage.He got thereon his own merit.All you did was inspire him...
to study and to learn, and for that
you should be commended.
And thus beganan uneasy truce...between Sedgewick Belland myself.Whatever spark had ignited himduring the previous months...was now extinguished.And his briefflirtationwith diligence...was supplanted bya renewed appetite for brashness,contempt and folly.As for his classmates,his effect on them was almost hypnotic.Wherever he went,they hovered,
Sedgewick for class president.
Utterly blind to anydeficiencies in his character.
Food fight!
So, his remaining years atSaint Benedict's passed...amidst an inexhaustible seriesof pranks,and an avalancheof C's and D's.
Sedgewick Hyram Bell.
And though his father's influenceguaranteed him a place at Yale,it was with aprofound sense of failure,that in the spring of 1976,I handedSedgewick Bell his diploma.[Bell Tolling]According to Heraclitus,we cannot step intothe same river twice."In the flow of time, "he argued,"an opportunity lostis lost forever. "And yet, when Elizabeth'smarriage ended and shereturned home from England,the waters in whichwe found ourselves swimming...were precisely as lovelyas those we had earlier only imagined.But if time had madeconcessions for love,it made none for death.And when our headmaster,Terence Woodbridge, passed away,I felt profound sadness.Though the incidentwith Sedgewick Bellhad tested our friendship,he had for half a century...devoted himselfto St. Benedict's tradition ofacademic and moral leadership...
A tradition, I realized,that was now mine...to safeguard.
Good luck, Mr. Hundert.
Thank you, Mr. Horner.
Everyone.
Welcome.
Larry, good to see you.
Hi.
Mr. Phillips.
Mr. Hundert.
Good to see you again.
Uh, please take a seat.
Uh...
Let's get right to it,
shall we?
As you wish.
Mr. Hundert, your contributions
at Saint Benedict's
have been extraordinary.
Your tenure is unmatched,
and you are loved and revered by all.
The notion of taking you away
from your classroom...
is one to which
we've given great thought.
A headmaster's job
is a rigorous one.
The travel demands
and meeting schedules
have become unending.
One must be prepared
to do battle 24 hours a day
and sometimes longer.
Well, having rowed our lakeevery day, weather permitting,
through the last seven
presidential administrations,
I feel more than ready
to do battle.
What we're saying,
Mr. Hundert, is...
Mr. Hundert,
what experience do you have...
with fund-raising
or building endowments?
Mr. Hundert, we can't affordto lose you as a teacher here.
The reality is this.
Enrollment is down.
People are thinking
of Saint Benedict's as old-fashioned.
We need to lookmore to the futureand less to the past.
Then who?
Someone from the outside?
James Ellerby.
Excuse me?
You did realize he made
application for the job.
Mr. Ellerby has proposedsome very exciting...
No.
Fund- raising possibilities.
Miss Johnston, I've been
assistant headmaster for 17 years.
I fail to see how Mr. Ellerby's...
qualifications as a fund-raiser...
It's notjustabout fund- raising.
James Ellerby is
a forward-thinking man.
He's reached out
to the community.
He's built relationships to someof the most important alumni.He is a wonderful communicator,with impeccablemoral standing...and an unwaveringcommitment to this school.
So...
Then you leave me no choice
but to tender my resignation.
I would ask you not to.
You are a teacher, and
the finest one we've ever had.
Please excuse me.
Please understand, Mr. Hundert,
you will be welcome back here
at Saint Benedict's at any time.
Th- The doorwill forever be open.
I'm still shocked
atJames Ellerby.
Oh, I'm not.
I'm only shocked
that I didn't see it coming.
I realize now he'd been
conducting a behind-the-scenes
campaign for years.
He's godfather to two
of the board members' children,
for God's sake.
[Sighs]
I have...
so many other things...
that I've always
wanted to do.
I-I've always
wanted to write.
I have an idea
for a book on the early days
of the Republic.
Well,
here's to Saint Benedict's.
I brought you some tea.
Mmm.
Going well?
Oh, it's virtually
writing itself.
Good.
Then I won't interrupt you.
Carry on, then.Good writing.
[Sighs]
William?
James Ellerby's on the phone.
The merger makes him C.E.O.
Of one of the largest
corporations in America.
But what does any of this
have to do with me?
Here's the thing.
He's informed us
that he would like to make...
a substantial donation
to Saint Benedict's...
with one condition.
He would like to hold
a rematch of the
Mr. Julius Caesar contest.
A rematch?
With you
as master of ceremonies.
Why?
He says he would like to
reclaim his intellectual honor.
And he says his secretary'salready located Louis Masoudiand Deepak Mehta...
and doesn't really
anticipate too much trouble
tracking down the others.
Didn't you tell him
I had retired?
Well, he asked
for you and only you.
He insisted on it
as a condition.
And did Mr. Bell say how much
of a donation he was planning
to make to Saint Benedict's?
Enough for a 25,000-square-foot
addition to the library...
in honor
of his father.
It would be the school's
single largest donation to date.
And a retired history professor
with no fund-raising ability
is the linchpin.
Yes.
It's ironic.
Life's a funny thing,
William, huh?
Where does he proposeto hold this rematch?[Ellerby] A resorton the Gold Coast of Long Islandthat his company owns.The proposed itineraryis all in here.[Helicopter Whirring]
Ah, Mr. Hundert.
Mr. Bell.
And how was your trip?
It was unlike anything
I've ever experienced.
I now know how Caesar Augustus
must have felt...
being carried head high
in the litter past the Tiber.
Oh, really?
It's all a bit overwhelming.
Well, don't let this fool you.
I am still the son of a pig farmer.
I really appreciate
you coming here
this weekend.
You know, you think things
that happen when you're 15
don't matter, but...
[Chattering]
[Man]Great party.
I'm so glad to see you.
[Bell] I mean, this guy...
you should have saw himin boarding school.
I mean, oh...
Excuse me, guys,
I'll be right back.
Mr. Hundert. Please.
Sedgewick.
Please come and join us.
I'd like you to meet
my top two advisors.
This is John.
Hi, John.
Hi, Mr. Hundert.
- And Robert.
- How do you do, Mr. Hundert?
- Very well, thank you.
- And, my lovely wife, Victoria.
So nice to finally meet you, sir.
I've heard so much about you.
All right, all right!
[Bell]This is the time of the evening...where I'd like tocall upon a unique g...
Oh, Brewster.
I'd like to call upon
a unique gentleman,
one who managed to chiselthe rise and fall ofthe Roman Empire into our minds,
whether we liked it or not.
- Our Mr. Hundert.
- [Man]Hear.! Hear.![Applause]
I must say, um...
You've all grown up.
I feel as if
I should do roll call...
just to be sureto whom I'm speaking.
Seriously,
to stand here among...
my students...
[Laughing]
I expect to see
you all in detention.
[Together]
Oh, whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa!
Now, risen to become...
a bunch
of drunken reprobates...
who are now a veritable
who's who of American industry,
law, finance
and higher education.
Well, I can think
of few greater privileges.
I thank you.
[Laughs]
More coffee, sir?
Yes. Thank you.
Mr. Hundert?
Martin. Martin Blythe.
It's good
to see you again, sir.
When you weren'tat the dinner last night,I was worried that perhaps...
That I wasn'tgonna make it?
Oh, come on, Mr. Hundert.
I wouldn't miss this.
You know, I was going
over my notes the other day...
in preparation
for the...
The competition.
Yes, and I-I came
across an essay...
that you once wrote
on the Five Good Emperors.
It's amazing.
You were...
You were always
a wonderful student, Martin.
I, uh,
I never quite
gave you your due.
Now, why would
you say that?
Oh, I don't know, I...
My God, Mr. Hundert,
you...
That recommendation you wrote
when I applied for the Academy...
It was glowing. It was...
Of course
you gave me my due.
You gave me
more than my due.
[Shouting, Indistinct]
Grab his wrists! Push.
Okay, Deepak. With what emperordid theJulio- Claudian dynastycome to an end?
Mmm.
Masoudi?Nero.
We did it! Yeah!
Good job, Robert.
All right, all right.
Time to study.
No. Come on, Dad.!One more game?[Knocking]
Come in.
- Sorry to bother you, sir.
- Oh, no bother.
How are you, Sedgewick?
I am fine.
I have something for you.
Oh, my God.
I hope there's
no late fee.
I understand now
why it meant so much to you.
"The Greeks carve cold marble
until it almost comes to life.
"The Greeks compose
great orations...
"and measure the heavens so well
they can predict the rising
of the stars.
"But you, Roman,
remember your great arts.
"To govern the people
with authority...
"to establish peace
under the rule of law.
To conquer the mighty,
and to show them mercy
once they are conquered."
Well, it's nice to see
you haven't marked it up.
[Chuckles]
Yeah, I had my moments,
didn't I?
Your years, you mean.
Why did you
put up with me?
I suppose because...
I saw a young man who was
under a great deal of pressure.
And, not unlike your upbringing,
I too had a... a father
who was a very busy man.
[Chuckles]
You know, it's funny.
I remember travelingwith my father,
and there wasn't a person
he didn't know.
He talked, and he told stories,
and he was,
he was always full of advice,
always charming, and always...
the Senator.
But I can hardly rememberhaving a real conversationwith him.
In fact, I wonder if he ever
heard a word I'd spoken.
Years ago, I, uh,
visited him in the hospital
and he was very, very sick.
And it took a moment for himto realize I was at his bedside.
And he began to cry.
And through his tears,he looked up at me and he said,
"Talk to me."
[Chuckles]
I wondered where to begin.
I had no idea.
But at the very momentI started to talk,
he closed his eyes
and he passed away...
without having heard a word.
Ah, that son of a bitch.
Oh, God. Thanks.
Thanks again, Mr. Hundert,
for, uh, for making
all this possible.
It is my extreme pleasure.
I'm looking forward
to this evening. Best of luck.
Oh, much obliged.
I'll need all the help
I can get.
I don't think so.
See ya downstairs.
I'll see you downstairs.
[Applause]
[Man]
Go, Deepak!
[Man]
All right, Sedgewick!
It's not a good time.
I've gotta call you right back.
Thank you. Bye.
Sorry, sir.
Were you talkingto your broker?
Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen.
Our three scholars
will be posed questions...
on ancient history
in increasing levels of difficulty.
I ask you to please
hold your applause
until the end of each round.
May the best man win.
Mr. Masoudi, are you ready?
Mr. Hundert,I am Julius Caesar.
[Laughing]
Mr. Caesar,
of the first eight emperors,
which name is omitted
from the following list?
Augustus, Tiberius,
Caligula, Nero, Vespasian,
Titus, Domitian.
Trajan.
I'm sorry.
That is incorrect.
Oh.
Was it Marcus Aurelius?
- No.
- Commodus?
- No.
- Oh. Septimus?
Nope.
Gaseous Flatulus?
I'm sorry.None of the above.
[Clears Throat] The question
goes to Mr. Mehta. Would you
like me to repeat the question?
No, sir.
It's Claudius, sir.
That is correct.
- See, I knew that.
- It was a short reign,
but a happy one.
You may be seated, Mr. Masoudi.
Thank you.
Thank you for your kindness.
[Man]That's all right, Lou.
Now you can
check your messages.
Uh, Mr. Bell,
please translate, if you will,
alea jacta est.
Tell me who uttered these words,
and on what occasion.
Alea jacta est.
"The die is cast."
Caesar spoke these words
as he crossed the Rubicon
in defiance of his government.
That is correct.
I've been studying.
I can see that.
Mr. Mehta,
what year was the Roman army
crushed at Lake Trasimene?
217 B.C., sir.
Correct.
Mr. Bell, who wasthe last emperor...
of the Western Empire?
Romulus Augu...
[Clears Throat]
Romulus Augustulus.
Correct.
- Mr. Mehta.
- Milvian Bridge.
- Correct.
- Lex Vatinia.
- Very good.
- Praetorian Guard.
- [Bell]Marcus Aurelius.
- Theodosius II.
- That is correct.
- Comitia Tributa.
- The Hadrianic rotunda.
- Well done.
Mr. Bell,
which tribes
invaded Rome in 102 B.C.?
Um...
[Hundert]Take your time.
The Teutons.
Oh, um... God.
Um...
[Sighs]
I'm gonna take a stab here.
Uh...
The Cimbri?
That is correct.
Well done. I'm impressed.
Thank you very much.
Good. I'm...
Mr. Mehta...
[Clears Throat]What was Caracalla'sgreatest constit...
greatest constitutional reform?
He granted citizenship
to all free male inhabitants
of the empire.
That is correct.
Mr. Bell,
who was Shutruk-Nahhunte?
[Chuckling]
Shutruk-Nahhunte, huh?
Come on, Bell.It was above the damn door.The door.!He's gotta know this.The door, Sedgewick.!Come on.!
Come on, Sedgewick.
The plaque!
I guess if Deepak
can nab this one,
then it's his ball game.
Mr. Mehta,
who was Shutruk-Nahhunte?
Shutruk-Nahhunte,
King of Ansham and Susa,
sovereign of the land of Elam.
That is correct.
[Cheering, Clapping]
Ladies and gentlemen,
Mr. Julius Caesar!
- Hail, Caesar.!
- Hail, Caesar!
- Congratulations. Goodjob.
- [Man] Hail, Caesar.!
Congratulations, Deepak.
Thank you very much,
Mr. Hundert.
Good job.
I suppose if you're gonna lose,
you may as well lose to the brightest.
Deepak Mehta.
And thanks again,Mr. Hundert.
Your virtue is
a beacon of light.
All right, Mr. H...!
Oh, no, Mr. Hundert.
Please stay.
And thank you all.
We've had a great deal
of fun this weekend,
and we, uh, probably shouldn't
wait another 25 years
till we do it again.
[Man]I'll say.But there's a more serious sideto this gathering.One that concernsevery one of us.Because all of us here,I believe,care about the qualityof education in this country.
And not just at places
like Saint Benedict's,
not just for our children,
but for the nation's children.
Because we all care about
our country's future...
Marty...
about its moral leadership,
about its fiscal leadership.
And because we know that,as a generation,
it is our time to lead.
And why I stand before you now,
to tell you my intentions
of following in the formidable
footsteps of my father,
and announce my bid for a seatin the United States Senate.And I want to ask you allfor your support.[Man]He's got my vote.!
Congratulations.
Sedgewick, congratulations.
[Chattering, Indistinct]
Here you are.
There's about, uh, 30 balding,
middle-aged men out there
looking for you, Professor.
Well, some things
can't wait.
[Sighs]
God, you were great
this evening.
You're like fine wine.You improve with age.[Urinal Flushes]
Everything all right?
Yes, I'm fine.
Yeah? You don't...
You don't look so fine.
I'm all right.
Thank you.
Well, then hurry up
and come join the celebration.
How long have you been
hard of hearing, Sedgewick?
[Sighs]
Uh...
[Chuckles]
Very good, Mr. Hundert.
Very...
Very good. Yeah.
Boy, I thought
you might've known.
Who's the poor mercenary
who was feeding you the answers?
Oh, just some graduate student.
Gave him a couple hundred bucks
and a warm meal.
I trust you'll keep thisbetween us.As always.
I trust you will.
Do you mean am I going
to go out there...
and expose you
for a liar and a cheat?
No.
I'm a teacher, Sedgewick.
And I failed you...
As a teacher.
But I will give you one last lecture,
if I may.
All of us,
at some point,are forced...
to look at ourselves
in the mirror,
and see who we really are.
And when that day
comes for you, Sedgewick,
you will be confrontedwith a life...
lived without virtue,
without principle,
and for that I pity you.
End of lesson.
Well, can I say,
Mr. Hundert,
who gives a shit?
Honestly.
Who out there
gives a shit...
about your principles
and your virtues?
I mean, look at you.
What do you have
to show for yourself?
I live in the real world,
where people do what they need
to do to get what they want.
And if it's lying and it's cheating,
then so be it.
So, I am gonna
go out there,
and I am going to win
that election, Mr. Hundert,
and you will
see me everywhere.
And I'll worry
about my contribution later.
[Toilet Flushing]Robert.
Robert.
And a, uh,
vodka tonic, please.
Yes, sir.
Oh, Mr. Hundert.
Martin, could I
have a minute?
Oh, sure, sure.
I-I enjoyed that so much, sir.
I-I-I'm so sorry my wife
and my kids couldn't
be here to see it.
You know, I really thought
Sedgewick was gonna
take it from him this time.
It was amazing.
Martin, that was supposed
to be you up there.
I'm... sorry?
All those years ago,
it was supposed to be you.
Well, no. I-I wasn't
one of the original
three finalists.
You were.
I gave your spot away.
It may not mean
anything to you, but...
I wanted you to know that.
Okay.
I'm sorry, Martin.
No, that's-that's okay.
I-I don't know
what I'm supposed to say.
Um, I've got to, um...
You know,
Deepak is waiting for me.
Will I see you
at breakfast tomorrow?
Sure.
Good.
[Man]And here's the keyyou were looking for.[Bell]That's... That'svery important to us.[Phone Ringing]I think it should be importantto people in our country.I think that it's...
it's important.My father, Hyram Bell,instilled in me asense of principles.
What I think
this country really needs,
it's that sense of...
of right and wrong.[Phone Ringing]And we're, uh, speaking of,ofhow we can make this...
better with education,
to-to reach out...
and really get
to the children,
to teach them the sense...
of principlesand sense of contribution.Mr. Hundert.
Have I come
to the wrong place
for breakfast?
Not at all.
But unfortunately
you've missed everyone.
Missed everyone?
Well, they seemed
to be rather in a hurry.
Some of them
had planes to catch.
But they did say
to say good-bye to you.
I'm sure I could find you
something to eat if you'd like.
No, no. Thank you.
W-Was there... Thank you.
Hail, Caesar.![Chattering, Indistinct]
Get a picture really quick.
There it is.
[Shutter Clicks]
Look at him.
He looks great.
Oh, the bat!
Gimme the bat, the bat.
Mr... Mr. Hundert, we have
something we'd like
to present to you.
The only man
who could make Homer a hit,
our slugger, Mr. Hundert.
[Laughter]
Do you remember?
I remember.
Hey, be careful ofthe window over there, Mr. H...!
Eloquently put, Mr. Masoudi,
et al.
Uh, thank you.
Deepak, the, uh,
the, uh, plaque.
"A great teacher has little
external history to record.
"His life goes overinto other lives."These men are pillarsin the intimate structureof our schools.
"They are more essential
than its stones or beams.
"And they will continueto be a kindling force,and a revealing powerin our lives. "
Thank you, Mr. Hundert.
Thank you, Deepak.
I, uh...
He's speechless
for the first time
in his life.
Whatever I may have
taught you gentlemen,
um, many years ago,
I want to thank you
for this weekend,
because you
have taught me something...
of inestimable value.
Thank you.
To Mr. Hundert.
To you, sir.!
To Mr. H.!
Thank you. Here.
Oh, I'm sorry.
To you.
[Helicopter Whirring]I had come here in the hopethat I had been wrongabout Sedgewick Bell.Or rather,that I had been right...
right to believe in himall those years ago.But this is a storywithout surprises.As a student ofhistory,I could be shocked...neither by his audacity,nor his success.I had failed Sedgewick.But the worth of a lifeis not determined...by a single failure,or a solitary success.My other studentstaught me that.However much we stumble,it is a teacher's burdenalways to hope...that with learning, a boy'scharacter might be changed.And, so,the destiny of a man.[Boy]Good morning, Mr. Hundert.
Good morning.
[Hundert]Your name, sir?William Simon, sir.
- And your name?
- Howard Hollander.
- And yours, sir?
- George Duncan.
And your name, sir?
Alec Matthews.
- And yours, miss?
- Kathryn Scott.
- And your name?
- Tawana Carver.
- And yours, sir?
- Steven Wong.
Very good.
Very good.
My name is Mr. Hundert.
This is Western Civilization...
[Knocking]
Sorry I'm late, sir.
[Sighs]
And you are?
Uh, Martin Blythe, sir.
Of course.
Welcome, Mr. Blythe.
Have a seat.
Uh, yes, sir.
Mr. Blythe?
Yes, sir?
Would you please stand up
and read the plaque...
which you seeover the door behind you?
"'I am Shutruk-Nahhunte,
"'King of Ansham and Susa,
"'sovereign of the land of Elam.
"'I destroyed Sippar,
"'took the stele
of Naram-Sin...
"'and brought it back
to Elam,
"where I erected it
as an offering to my god.'
Shutruk- Nahhunte, 1158 B.C. "
Very good.